UK fire brigades are now tackling at least three lithium-ion battery fires a day, following a 93% surge between 2022 and 2024, with e-bikes the main contributor, a FOI request has revealed.

Data collected by insurer QBE from Freedom of Information requests to UK fire services in March 2025 shows that e-bikes were responsible for almost a third of all recorded li-ion battery fires in 2024, accounting for 362 fires in 2024, double the 181 reported in 2022.

Between 2022 and 2024, fires involving e-cars rose by 77% (131 to 232). While the number of electric vehicles on the road has more than doubled in the same period, the risk from EV fires is substantial due to their fire intensity and speed of ignition and spreading caused by li-ion batteries.

Fires involving electric scooters increased by 32% from 118 in 2022 to 156 in 2024. Fires involving electric mobility scooters rose by 20% from 25 in 2022 to 30 in 2024. The threat to their users is heightened, particularly for those with limited mobility, who may struggle to vacate quickly in the event of a fire.

Of all the fire services in the UK, the London Fire Brigade recorded the highest number of li-ion battery fires in 2024, with 407 incidents – more than four times the next highest region. Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service was second, reporting 100 fires, followed by West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue, which covers Leeds and Bradford, reporting 94.

For those fires whose location was recorded, the most frequent was residential properties, followed by outdoors, and commercial premises.

Adrian Simmonds, practice leader for property risk solutions at QBE Insurance, said li-ion battery fires continue increasing at a worrying pace. “These fires burn differently, they take longer to tackle, typically need ten times more water to put out and are often more harmful to the surrounding environment. People need to understand the risks and how to deal with them,” he added. “While QBE supports the adoption of e-transport, we also call for stricter regulation. For instance, the UK should stop the sale of rogue e-bikes and other unregulated devices. This could be done in the Product Regulation and Metrology Bill, which is going through Parliament.

“In the meantime, consumers should purchase e-bikes and e-scooters from reputable companies, [from] retailers that show they take quality and compliance seriously with a genuine CE mark. Raising awareness around safe charging, use and disposal of lithium-ion batteries is critical to keeping people and property safe.”

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